Highjacked Danish yachtsmen behaved irresponsibly, endangering their own underage children

On or about the 24 February 2011 a Danish Yacht was captured by pirates in the Southern Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. The Danish foreign ministry confirmed and stated this publicly only today, which is why we could release the alert only just now, since it always has also to be ensured that the next of kin are informed first. According to our information the attack happened in position 14N and 58E and the name of the Yacht is S/Y ING. Four adults and three children aged 12, 14 and 16 are kept hostage. The yacht is at present commandeered towards Somalia. It is really hoped that the navies this time do not make the same mistakes as in the cases of SY TANIT AND SY QUEST.
Ecoterra Intl.

Comment:
Danish media reporting children to be of the age 17, 15 and 13. Yacht belongs to a family Kalundborg, they’ve been circumnavigating the globe for two years, leaving Denmark in August 2009. There are 4 adults on board, a Kalundborg couple and two additional crew.
Ecoterra reports there are about 100 yachts in India, bound for Europe and fearing pirates. Yachtsmen blame navies for rejecting to escort them, but escorting flotilla of sailing yachts is a task which requiers involving of nearly all navies in the region. It’s very difficult technically. Yachtsmen after all, know about Somali piracy threat for a long time, it’s not some kind of force majeure, and they should realize that they’re considered as pleasure-seekers, who have a choice to sail this or that route, unlike most of the merchant vessels. If they choose to cross dangerous waters all by themselves, they should recognize risks involved. It’s just a reality of life – navies can’t secure safety for big ships with numerous multinational crews, shipping in the region is vital for world economy, why should they bother themselves with pleasure boats? Take it or leave it, that’s all there is to say. Danish couple decision to sail most dangerous route was irresponsible, they risked not only themselves, but other people and their own children, and now we can only hope they’ll come out alive and unharmed.
Voytenko Mikhail